Freedom and Human Rights Archives

Defining “Equal”

Nov 13, 2022

The first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights begins by saying “We are all born free and equal in dignity and rights.” Beautiful words but what exactly is meant by ‘equal’? There are a few definitions for the word ‘equal’ so to find out, I decided to research what the main architect of the document, Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, may have meant. What was the context in which the word was being used?

In one of her most famous quotes on human rights, Mrs. Roosevelt said:

“Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places close to home, so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any map of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person: the neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination.”

Right there Mrs. Roosevelt spells out what is meant by ‘equal’. I think most people would agree that ALL people should be equal before the law, have equal opportunities for work and education and all people are worthy of honor and respect without discrimination. The definition of ‘equal’ in this context is without discrimination; unprejudiced; impartial. One person is not better than another because of the color of their skin or the religion they profess, or gender, or age, etc.

What it does not mean in this regard is all are equal (definition being same measure, quality or amount) in abilities, purposes, talent or personality as there are observable differences between people in these areas.

In the second article of the UDHR, the writers and UN General Assembly reinforce that “Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”

If we feel the need to make a judgment on others, let’s judge their actions and contributions as that is the only true determinant of who they are. Are they mostly helping or harming? Do they usually lift people up or bring people down?

There is another quote by Mrs. Roosevelt that sums up this topic exquisitely:

“The important thing is neither your nationality nor the religion you professed, but how your faith translated itself in your life.”

How Do We Gain Freedom for All?

Jun 2, 2022

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) contains 30 separate articles each addressing a specific right. This blog will focus on Article 4 which reads: “No one shall be held in slavery¹ or servitude²; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.”

This is a right that most people would say, of course, you should not hold another human being in slavery or servitude! And yet, some estimates suggest over 40,000,000 people are enslaved in the world today in either labor trafficking or sex trafficking. It is a difficult statistic to actually track since perpetrators are not voluntarily reporting it.

To really understand what human trafficking is, I’ve found it best to learn from some real-life stories. It is far more impactful and makes it more real than just seeing a statistic or number on a page.

To learn about sex trafficking, I highly recommend the book “I Am Not Your Slave” by Tupa Tjipombo and Chris Lockhart.

“I Am Not Your Slave is the shocking true story of a young African girl, Tupa, who was abducted from southwestern Africa and funneled through an extensive yet almost completely unknown human trafficking network spanning the entire African continent. As she is transported from the point of her abduction on a remote farm near the Namibian-Angolan border and channeled to her ultimate destination in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, her three-year odyssey exposes the brutal horrors of a modern-day middle passage. During her ordeal, Tupa encounters members of Africa’s notorious gangs, terrifying witchdoctors, mysterious middlemen from China, corrupt police and border officials, Arab smugglers, and high-ranking United Nations officials. And of course, Tupa meets her fellow trafficking victims, young women and girls from around the world. Tupa’s harrowing experience, including her daring escape and eventual return home, sheds light on the most shocking aspects of modern-day slavery, as well as the essential determination to be free.”- Chris Lockhart

For education on labor trafficking, be on the lookout for a documentary that is currently in development titled, “To Be Free”. The film shines a light on the pervasiveness of labor trafficking in the United States of America, how we can spot it in our neighborhoods, and the steps we can take to eradicate this form of modern-day slavery on a systemic level. You will hear the unbelievable story of Harold and Dancy D’Souza who endured more than 18 months of slavery in the state of Ohio. The film is produced and directed by Benjamin Ryan Nathan with Martin Sheen as Executive Producer. For more information on To Be Free and how to get involved, contact Ben@allofusfilms.com.

https://www.pingara.com/post/martin-sheen-executive-producer-film-be-free-feature-harold-dsouza

If this particular human right is one you are passionate about, there is likely an organization near you that is doing something about it. I’ve come into contact with quite a few groups that are doing great work, such as: Philadelphia Anti-Trafficking Coalition, Eyes Open International, Operation Underground Railroad, and Zoe Ministries-Delaware. I’m sure there are many organizations that would appreciate your help!

Something else for us to consider in regards to slavery pertains to Merriam-Webster’s second definition which reads, “submission to a dominating influence (slavery to a habit)”. How many people in our society are held in slavery to drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, sugar, junk food, or any bad habit they just can’t seem to stop? The numbers are probably very high. If we include people enslaved to harmful habits or emotions in the slavery statistic, I wonder how many people are actually free. Even more important, what can we do to help each other be free?

Remember, it is not enough to just know your human rights (although that is a good start); we need to get into action to protect these human rights for ourselves and others.

For a free online course to learn all 30 of your human rights, visit: https://www.humanrights.com/course/

Definitions from: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/

¹Slavery

1 : the practice of slaveholding

: the state of a person who is held in forced servitude

: a situation or practice in which people are entrapped (as by debt) and exploited

2 : submission to a dominating influence (slavery to a habit)

²Servitude

: a condition in which one lacks liberty especially to determine one’s course of action or way of life
: a right by which something (such as a piece of land) owned by one person is subject to a specified use or enjoyment by another

National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month

Jan 18, 2022

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The Philadelphia Anti-Trafficking Coalition defines Human Trafficking as the recruitment, transport, sale, or receipt of persons within or across national borders through force, fraud, or coercion to place the persons in slavery or slavery-like work conditions. Traffickers use violence, threats, blackmail, false promises, deception, manipulation, and debt bondage to trap vulnerable individuals in horrific situations. https://patcoalition.org/

In short, it is slave trading and is a horrific crime and violation of human rights where a person is exploited into slave labor or sexual exploitation. It is also considered a hidden crime because victims frequently do not seek help due to language barriers, fear of their traffickers, or fear of law enforcement.

Article 4 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: “No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.” NO ONE, not one person. One person is too many.

“A common misconception about human trafficking is that it does not happen in the United States. This is false, as the United States is ranked as one of the worst countries globally for human trafficking. It is estimated that 199,000 incidents occur within the United States every year.” https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/human-trafficking-statistics-by-state

One of the most descriptive, true stories I’ve found on the topic of sex trafficking is a book titled “I Am not Your Slave” by Chris Lockhart and Tupa Tjipombo. Tupa Tjipombo is the pseudonym of a Nambian woman from South Africa who was trafficked by an evil network across the continent of Africa up to the United Arab Emirates into the hands of a “collector”.

Tjipombo thought that putting the descriptive truth out for people to read would be much more impactful towards eliminating this horrific crime than just a statistic on a page. In my opinion, she was correct. Her story was very difficult to confront and believe that this type of evil exists in our world today. It definitely inspires a person into action! Her perpetrators included individuals from various countries including the United States of America where slavery was “abolished” in 1865. You can find a full interview with Lockhart and Tjipombo here: https://www.thefirestone.org/2020/07/20/we-touch-the-world-and-the-world-touches-us/

Another form of human trafficking is labor trafficking and debt bondage. Harold D’Souza, founder of Eyes Open International, has dedicated his life to ending this modern-day slavery because he knows how much the victims suffer–he once was one.

Originally from India, D’Souza is well-educated and experienced in sales management. He has a Bachelor’s in Business and a Master of Commerce from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. Harold stepped down from a senior management position in order to pursue the American Dream which he believed was within his reach. Harold came to the U.S. following the advice and encouragement of a man who would soon after becoming his trafficker. For over 18 months, Harold was exploited and tortured at the hands of the human trafficker, losing his freedom and struggling to keep his family safe.

D’Souza is an example of turning obstacles into opportunities. United States President Barack Obama appointed him to the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking in 2015 and he continued his service under President Trump through July 2020. D’Souza is also an expert consultant to the Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. To listen to more of his story, click here: https://www.thefirestone.org/the-podcasts/ scroll to Episode 13.

There is currently a Bollywood Blockbuster Film being made on D’Souza’s slavery nightmare. Actor Martin Sheen is the Executive Producer of the documentary titled “To Be Free” which is produced and directed by Benjamin Ryan Nathan.

Tjipombo and D’Souza are true Human Rights Heroes! Their strength, courage, fight for freedom and pure greatness are an inspiration for all human beings. Let’s join together with these heroes and put an END to the atrocity of modern-day slavery.

What can you do about it?

If you suspect someone may be a victim of human trafficking in the US, call the National Hotline immediately: 1-888-373-7888.

Another action you can take is to visit the US Department of State’s website for 20 ways you can help fight human trafficking. https://www.state.gov/20-ways-you-can-help-fight-human-trafficking/

For information on how to educate others on this and all their 30 human rights along with suggestions for taking action, click here: https://www.humanrights.com/take-action/get-active.html

Strengthening Respect for Human Rights

Jan 9, 2022

When the United Nations’ General Assembly first adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948, they called upon all member countries “to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded¹ principally in schools and other educational institutions without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories.” Yet one of the questions I hear most frequently in my human rights workshops is: “Why didn’t we ever learn this before?”

In my opinion, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is as important and relevant today as it was in 1948. If you take the time to educate yourself on all 30 articles of the UDHR, you will see why. These 30 rights belong to everyone, everywhere. Click here for a free online course: https://www.humanrights.com/course/

Once you are educated on your 30 human rights, the next step is to get into action. First, identify the human rights you are most passionate about. Next, come up with a plan on how to promote or protect those rights for yourself and others. You can most likely find a non-profit organization in your region that is already getting good results in the human right you are most interested in so you can start by teaming up with them.

A side benefit I’ve found, is if you are working on something you are passionate about, not only will it bring the human right to life but it brings you more to life as well.

Article 26, Right to Education, in Part 2 specifically states: “Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.” This is something that can and should be done in the education systems in our countries. However, if they don’t, citizens of Earth—you and me–have the responsibility and power to make sure all people are educated on their human rights.

Article 29, Responsibility, in Part 1 says: “Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.” There are nearly 8 billion people on this planet at this time. EVERYONE has the right to know and have their 30 human rights. There is still much more good work to do in this area.

Governments (public sector) and Businesses (private sector) have their role to play in all of this. However, the 3^rd sector, Civil Society, also has a BIG role to play. In my opinion, the 3^rd sector holds tremendous, untapped, latent² power.

In a democracy, UDHR Article #21, “the will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government”. Businesses also work for the people because without consumers, there is no business. It is up to US to use our power responsibly and to use our imaginations creatively to truly bring these human rights to life for everyone.

I can attest, it is work that is fun and rewarding and want you to know that you can make a difference. I am an ordinary citizen who thought something needed to be done and just started taking steps with the help of the United for Human Rights educational materials. It wasn’t long before I was invited to speak at both the Constitution Center in Philadelphia and the United Nations in New York.

Who knows where the journey may lead you? Take your first step and find out!

References:

¹Expounded – to explain by setting forth in careful and often elaborate detail https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expounded

²Latent – present and capable of emerging or developing but not now visible, obvious or active https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/latent

What Does it Take to Live the Pledge?

Nov 25, 2020

Do you remember back in grade school when we started our day with the Pledge of Allegiance? With right hand over heart, we recited this pledge every day while admiring our Flag. I remember feeling very proud but not sure I truly understood what I was actually pledging OR, that someday it might take something more than words to fulfill the pledge–it might require action.

My son said the same pledge when he was in school and my nieces still say it today.

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All.

So, what did that actually mean? And, more importantly, did we really mean it?

Pledge: to promise solemnly.¹

Allegiance: devotion or loyalty to a person, group or cause.²

Republic: a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them.³

Indivisible: not divisible; not separable into parts; incapable of being divided.⁴

Liberty: freedom from arbitrary or despotic control. Power of Choice.⁵

Justice: the administration of law, especially the establishment or determination of rights according to the rules of law or equity.⁶

All: Everybody, Everything.⁷

Most of us have probably rarely considered the possibility of losing the liberties we’ve been so fortunate to have in the United States of America.

If we truly pledge this allegiance (promise to be loyal to the cause), we need to be highly aware of decisions and events happening in our own country and around the world so as to prevent the slow encroachment and violation of our human rights and liberties.

We can begin by knowing our 30 Universal Human Rights and make sure others know them as well.

Freedom is not free. It comes with responsibility. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 21, Section 3 states: The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government. Our responsibility does not end with a vote. Another action you can take is to continuously use your voice effectively with your Congress people.

Know Your 30 Human Rights. Live the Pledge. The power is in you!

Post By: Ellen Firestone

¹ https://www.dictionary.com/browse/pledge?s=t

² https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allegiance

³ https://www.dictionary.com/browse/republic?s=t

⁴ https://www.dictionary.com/browse/indivisible?s=t

⁵ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liberty

⁶ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/justice

⁷ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/all

What if We Truly Achieved the Full Development of the Human Personality for Everyone?

Oct 18, 2020

On December 10, 1948, 56 member countries of the United Nations came together and adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

This Declaration contains 30 separate articles or “Rights” that we all have simply by the fact of being born. We do not have to earn them; no one has to give them to us—they are ours.

In my opinion, it is an amazing, well thought out document. Even more amazing to me was that 56 countries came together in response to the atrocities of World War II and agreed on something that is so critical for all human beings to be able to live with dignity in peace and tolerance on this tiny planet.

There is a particular line or theme that was repeated in 3 of the 30 rights that stood out to me in Articles 22, 26 and 29 having to do with the “free and full development of the human personality”. Hmmmm. How do we achieve this? What does it really mean? What makes it so important to be repeated 3 times?

Article 26, Right to Education, specifically states: 2. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.

Unfortunately, most people I’ve come in contact with over the past decade have not even heard of the UDHR and can name only a handful of the 30 human rights. So, even though we have this great document and did the hard work of having many countries agree on something, it is still not being taught or executed broadly enough. Hence, many continued horrific human rights violations.

My question is: what makes the free and full development of the human personality so important and how do we achieve it?

It was important enough to mention in 3 separate articles and yet I don’t see it being actively pursued by many individuals, schools or organizations.

I recently did a survey and one of the questions was did you learn this human right in school? Another was, did anyone ever talk to you about having a Basic Purpose while you were in school? There were very few who responded yes.

Great writers and philosophers have been teaching the concept of Know thyself for millennia.

Know thyself. – Socrates

Do thine own work, and know thyself. – Plato

Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. – Aristotle

Man know thyself; then thou shalt know the Universe and God. – Pythagoras

Be yourself; not your idea of what you think somebody else’s idea of yourself should be. – Henry David Thoreau

In 1831, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote a poem titled, ‘Know Thyself’, on the theme of ‘God in thee.’ The poem was an anthem to Emerson’s belief that to “know thyself” meant knowing the God that Emerson felt existed within each person. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know_thyself

How much time and attention do any of us really put on knowing ourselves, our basic purpose, and achieving our full potential? What could the world look like if we did something to change that?

Not only would individuals be more alive and happier, the world would be more beautiful and peaceful. We would actually care for each other, our organizations and our environment.

It does make a lot of sense, like this human right states, for Education to be directed to the full development of the human personality. Once we reach adulthood, many of us lead very busy lives with lots of distractions and simply do not take the time to discover who we are or what our purpose may be or even acknowledge that we have greater potential than we probably could ever imagine.

The truth is, it is never too late to find and start living your purpose. The key is to set some time aside in your daily or weekly plan for discovery, find a coach or process that works for you. Then set some goals to consistently work on achieving your basic purpose and full potential.

The Persian poet, Rumi once said, “As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.” This has certainly been my experience. The secret is to simply start.

It’s time to bring this human right to life!